Scottish Executive

European Union

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with European Commission (EC) representation in the United Kingdom on the transition from the EC of European resource centres for schools and colleges funding.

Cathy Jamieson: We have written to the EC representation in Edinburgh asking for clarification of these proposals and have received confirmation of the EC's intention to cease funding the European resource centres as from 31 December 2002. The Scottish Executive will meet the anticipated shortfall in funding to the Scottish European Resource Centre as from 1 January 2003.

European Union

Ben Wallace (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many times it has commented on European memoranda submitted to it by departments of Her Majesty’s Government since May 1999.

Mr Jim Wallace: This information is not held centrally. Under the Memorandum of Understanding between the UK Government and the devolved administrations arrangements are in place for the UK Government to consult the devolved administrations on relevant European Union matters, including draft explanatory memorandums. This happens on a regular and consistent basis.

European Union

Ben Wallace (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has complied with guidance issued by Her Majesty’s Government that comments on European memoranda be with the relevant departments within 10 days of receipt from the European Union.

Mr Jim Wallace: UK Government departments are under an obligation to the UK Parliament to ensure that explanatory memoranda are provided to the UK Parliament within 10 days of the deposit of the European Union document which requires the memorandum. Any consultation between Government departments and the Scottish Executive on the content of memoranda should be completed within this timescale.

European Union

Ben Wallace (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the recommendation at paragraph 106 of the House of Commons European Scrutiny Committee’s 30th Report, European Scrutiny in the Commons .

Mr Jim Wallace: The House of Commons European Scrutiny Committee’s 30th report is addressed to the UK Government, which will be responding to it shortly.

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive why it is proceeding with the crofting community right-to-buy in the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill despite opposition from Highland Council to the salmon fishing provisions in Part 3 of the bill.

Ross Finnie: Executive policy as reflected in the Land Reform Bill was determined in the light of a range of factors including views expressed in the wide-ranging series of consultations on land reform which started with the consultations undertaken by the Land Reform Policy Group and culminated in the consultation on the draft Land Reform Bill. In this, as in other fields, ministers do not necessarily accept the conclusions, relating to executive policy proposals, reached by any individual organisation that chooses to respond to a consultation.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to advise any patients with mental illness of the increase in the risk of psychosis and suicide through the use of cannabis.

Dr Richard Simpson: The Executive has recently published a Know the Score booklet on cannabis, which includes a description of the risks to mental health posed by this drug. The booklet has been widely distributed; for example to GP practices, NHS boards and drug agencies throughout Scotland. People who may be concerned about cannabis misuse can also speak to trained operators at the free and confidential Know the Score information line, or they can log on to the Know the Score website.

  Our guidance to medical professionals Managing Incidental Drug Misuse and Alcohol problems in Mental Health Care Settings recommends that drug misuse is covered in assessments of patients with mental health problems. The Guidelines on Clinical management of Drug Misuse and Dependence recommend that psychiatric issues should form part of assessments of patients seeking help with drug misuse problems.

  Further advice on developing integrated care for drug misusers in Scotland will be published in October 2002. Integrated care aims to combine and co-ordinate all services required to meet the assessed needs of drug users including their mental health needs. We are also working with the Scottish Advisory Committee on Drug Misuse to look further into the needs of drug misusers with underlying mental health problems.

  A report from the statutory Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs suggests that cannabis misuse triggers long-lasting mental health problems in relatively few cases, although it can undoubtedly worsen pre-existing mental health conditions. We are not aware of any current research which suggests that cannabis misuse increases the risk of suicide.

Ministerial Parliamentary Aides

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish details of the (a) costs associated with ministerial parliamentary aides and (b) proportion of such costs attributed to (i) its administration budget and (ii) other sources.

Mr Jack McConnell: No costs have been incurred. The position of ministerial parliamentary aide is unpaid. However, they may receive normal civil service travel and subsistence allowances when undertaking ministerial parliamentary aides duties. However, no such claims have been received.

Post Offices

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take to ensure that there is a secure environment for sub-postmasters in deprived urban areas where they are liable to threats and assault.

Allan Wilson: Post offices are a reserved issue. However, as part of a broad strategy aimed at providing support for communities in deprived urban areas Scottish ministers are currently considering ways in which post offices located in these areas might be assisted. If financial assistance is offered we will consider whether it could be used to fund improvements to deter violent and other crime. I hope to be able to advise you further on this in due course.

Prison Service

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it ever has requested, or will request, information from Premier Prison Services Ltd or any of its subsidiary companies to enable it to answer a parliamentary question and, if so, what information it has requested or might request.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  In the process of monitoring performance against the contract, the SPS requires Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited (KPSL) to provide detailed information on a wide range of outputs. Where relevant, that information has helped inform answers to parliamentary questions. On occasion the SPS has sought and will seek information from the operator in relation to parliamentary questions consistent with the Scottish Executive published policies for dealing with parliamentary questions and the Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information.

  We are committed to being open and accountable and have published, with the agreement of KPSL, the Kilmarnock contract.

Renewable Energy

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the effect on ScottishPower's renewables obligation will be if the proposed wind farm at Whitelees Forest does not proceed.

Ross Finnie: The obligation on ScottishPower will not be affected. It would remain for ScottishPower to decide how it meets that obligation.

Road Safety

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it proposes to take on the enforcement of legislation in respect of diesel spills on roads.

Mr Jim Wallace: The enforcement of legislation in this area is a matter for the police, the Health and Safety Executive and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

Road Safety

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will highlight in its road safety campaigns difficulties caused by diesel spills.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive provides funds to the Scottish Road Safety Campaign for the production of key road safety education initiatives and publicity campaigns. The campaign’s business plan for 2002-03 includes publicity on major causes of road accident fatalities and serious injuries such as speeding, drink driving and drug driving. There are no plans for a campaign on difficulties caused by oil or diesel spills.

  Out of a total of 14,707 injury road accidents in Scotland in 2001, there were 33 accidents, including one fatal, in which the presence of oil or diesel on the road was recorded. This represents 0.2% of injury accidents.

  Copies of the business plan are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 21011).

Roads

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20533 by Lewis Macdonald on 29 November 2001, when it will publish the Performance Audit Group’s independent report on the first year of operation of the new trunk road operating companies in accordance with the recommendation of the Auditor General for Scotland in his report of 22 November 2001.

Lewis Macdonald: The report entitled Report on the First Year of the New Trunk Road Operating Companies, 2001-02 will be published on Wednesday 4 September 2002. The report, which has been prepared by the Performance Audit Group, will be available on the Scottish Executive's web page and copies will be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre. Further copies can be obtained directly from the Performance Audit Group by writing to them at 16 Abercromby Place, Edinburgh, EH3 6LB.

School Trips

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it last consulted with (a) teachers, (b) pupils and parents, (c) trade unions, (d) local authorities and (e) the operators of fee-paying schools on the organisation and management of school trips.

Nicol Stephen: The organisation and management of school trips has not been the subject of recent consultation by the Scottish Executive with any of the groups listed. The Scottish Executive Education Department is, however, arranging discussion with local authority representatives. This discussion will be about the applicability in Scotland of material issued recently by the Department for Education and Skills in England to supplement their guidance on the health and safety of pupils on educational visits.

School Trips

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will issue guidance to local authorities on the appointment of outdoor education advisers to oversee and monitor school trips.

Nicol Stephen: As indicated in the answer given to question S1W-28252 today, the Scottish Executive Education Department is arranging discussion with representatives of local authorities about the applicability in Scotland of material issued recently by the Department for Education and Skills in England to supplement their guidance on the health and safety of pupils on educational visits. This material includes reference to the appointment of outdoor education advisers to oversee and monitor school trips.

School Trips

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will require each school to have a named member of staff to undertake the role of educational visits co-ordinator in respect of school trips

Nicol Stephen: As indicated in the answer given to question S1W-28252 today, the Scottish Executive Education Department is arranging discussion with representatives of local authorities about the applicability in Scotland of material issued recently by the Department for Education and Skills in England to supplement their guidance on the health and safety of pupils on educational visits. This material includes reference to the appointment of educational visits co-ordinators in respect of school trips.

School Trips

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider the adoption of improved risk assessment procedures for school trips.

Nicol Stephen: As indicated in the answer given to question S1W-28252 today, the Scottish Executive Education Department is arranging discussion with representatives of local authorities about the applicability in Scotland of material issued recently by the Department for Education and Skills in England to supplement their guidance on the health and safety of pupils on educational visits. This material includes reference to risk assessment for school trips.

Social Inclusion Partnerships

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-26780 by Hugh Henry on 11 July 2002, how many vacancies there were at 30 June 2002 in the Inverclyde Social Inclusion Partnership.

Hugh Henry: The number of vacancies in the support team for Inverclyde Regeneration Partnership at 30 June 2002 was seven.

Social Inclusion Partnerships

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-26780 by Hugh Henry on 11 July 2002, whether it has assessed the impact of high staff turnover on the Inverclyde Social Inclusion Partnership.

Hugh Henry: No formal assessment of the impact of staff turnover on Inverclyde Social Inclusion Partnership (SIP) has been carried out by either the Scottish Executive or Communities Scotland, who now manage the SIP programme.

  Following concerns expressed by partners on the SIP board on staffing and other issues, officials from Communities Scotland did however attend the SIP board meeting on 16 July to establish the extent to which the SIP is addressing these issues.

  The support team was one of the items on the agenda. We are satisfied steps have now been taken to appoint staff and note that the SIP hopes to have the support team up to full complement soon.

Teachers

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the first supplementary question to S1O-5268 by Nicol Stephen on 30 May 2002, what discussions it has had with local authorities over additional intake into the teacher induction scheme and which local authorities have indicated a willingness to take on student teachers as probationers earlier in the year.

Nicol Stephen: The Induction Implementation Group, established to develop the detail of the Teacher Induction Scheme, have been exploring the option of a second intake to the scheme. We have sought initial views from all councils and have discussed the matter at a meeting of the Association of Directors of Personnel.

  A final conclusion will be reached as soon as possible, however, it is clear a number of significant obstacles remain to creating a second intake point. Officials are therefore also examining whether alternative means exist of addressing the concerns of these graduates.

Water Supply

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the light of the outbreak of cryptosporidium in Glasgow’s water supply, it will issue any guidance to Scottish Water on whether sheep and cattle should continue to graze within the catchment areas of reservoirs.

Ross Finnie: The recommendation in respect of livestock grazing on land controlled by Scottish Water contained in the Outbreak Control Team report published by Greater Glasgow Health Board in November 2001 is being acted upon by Scottish Water. Scottish Water has no control over livestock management practices operating on land that is owned by third parties.

Water Supply

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Food Standards Agency Scotland will review Scottish Water’s practices and procedures leading up to and subsequent to the cryptosporidium outbreak in Glasgow’s water supply.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: I am advised that the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has been involved in the current review of Scottish Water’s Waterborne Hazard Plan insofar as it relates to food safety. It is not, however, within the FSA’s remit to review Scottish Water’s practices and procedures.

Water Supply

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what regulatory provisions govern the proximity of sheep and cattle and domesticated animals to sources of public water supply.

Ross Finnie: There are no regulations governing this activity.

Water Supply

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its current estimate is of the time required for public health officials to identify the presence of the protozoan cryptosporidium parvum in samples of surface water.

Ross Finnie: The Cryptosporidium Directions 2002 (paragraph 3(1)(a)) require Scottish Water to monitor their raw water sources for the presence of cryptosporidium and these data are collected to provide an indication of likely challenges to the treatment plant. This monitoring is upstream of the critical control point monitoring that is undertaken on the treatment works. There is no time period specified in the regulations for the results of surface water samples to be reported. The cryptosporidum directions prescribe time periods of 72 hours and 24 hours respectively, for routine and emergency samples of treated water to be analysed and reported.

Water Supply

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Chief Medical Officer or his staff were first alerted by, or on behalf of, the Greater Glasgow NHS Board of the identification of background levels of cryptosporidium within the water supply for areas it serves, as announced by Scottish Water on or about 3 August 2002.

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Chief Medical Officer or his staff were first alerted by, or on behalf of, of the Greater Glasgow NHS Board to the likely presence of cryptosporidium parvum in the water supply for areas within East Dunbartonshire, as announced by Scottish Water on or about 3 August 2002.

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Chief Medical Officer or his staff were first alerted by, or on behalf of Scottish Water, to the identification of background levels of cryptosporidium within the water supply for areas within East Dunbartonshire served by the Greater Glasgow NHS Board, as announced by Scottish Water on or about 3 August 2002.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive Health Department was notified on 3 August 2002.

Water Supply

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has obtained from (a) Scottish Water or (b) the Greater Glasgow NHS Board on (i) when test results were first (1) instructed and (2) obtained identifying the presence of cryptosporidium parvum in the water supply for areas within East Dunbartonshire; (ii) when such results were notified to the Joint Incident Team; (iii) when those test results were considered by the team; (iv) when public announcements of the identification of the presence of cryptosporidium parvum in the water supply and precautions to be taken were (1) recommended and (2) instructed.

Ross Finnie: Scottish Water continuously monitors the Milngavie water supply for cryptosporidium and if it detects the parasite in the water supply it immediately notifies Greater Glasgow NHS Board as required by the cryptosporidium directions. There is no indication that Scottish Water has not fully complied with its obligations under the cryptosporidium directions. However, a full report into the circumstances surrounding the water alert in Glasgow will be published by the Incident Control Team, which is chaired by a consultant in Public Health Medicine from Greater Glasgow NHS Board.